News in brief

Suicide bomber targets police station after lull

Terror returned to Islamabad yesterday, when a suicide bomber targeted a police station, after a five month lull in bombings. He was stopped by a policeman from entering the headquarters of the police "special branch", an undercover service. He blew up himself and the officer. At least one other policeman was injured. The last big attack in the capital was in October, also at a police building. In September, the city's Marriott hotel was devastated by a lorry bomb. The Interior Ministry head said intelligence reports suggested five or six suicide bombers may have entered the capital. Saeed Shah in Islamabad

Bashir travels to Eritrea despite ICC indictment

Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir, visited Eritrea yesterday, his first trip abroad since the international criminal court said on 4 March it was seeking his arrest on charges of war crimes in Darfur. Under the court's charter, member states are bound to arrest those indicted if they enter their territory. Eritrea is not a signatory, however, and has condemned the indictment. Bashir is due to attend an Arab League summit on 27 March in Qatar. Amr Moussa, the league's secretary general, said last week that member nations would not act on the arrest warrant. Only a few Arab countries are signatories to the ICC.Associated Press in Khartoum

Visitors who give food to baboons face fines or jail

South African authorities are to fine visitors who feed baboons, after the animals have been breaking into cars for food. Baboons have stolen picnics and snatched bags in tourist spots around Cape Town, and officials and conservationists said that tour operators were deliberately baiting them, despite signs warning against it. People now face a fine of 1,500 rands (£110) or six months in prison, or both. There are around 340 baboons in the area, and they are a protected species. In some suburbs they have been breaking into homes. A "baboon summit" to address the problems has been planned.Associated Press in Cape Town